Core functions of epidemiology

 Review the following and reply with a discussion on epidemiology and the core functions. Core Epidemiology functions include public health surveillance, field investigation, analytic studies, evaluation, linkages, and policy development (Fletcher, Fletcher, & Fletcher, 2014). According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), public health surveillance initially centered around communicable diseases but has evolved now including chronic diseases, birth defects, genetic defects, injuries, mental health behaviors, occupational and environmentally-related diseases (Centers of Disease Control Prevention, 2012). Surveillance is described as identification of patterns associated with disease outbreaks, exposures, injuries, or other public health related issues that stimulate need for additional data collection or evaluation (CDC, 2012). Field investigations attempt to locate the source of infections or illness, evaluate public health risks for outbreaks or risk of spread, and focus identifying source (CDC, 2012). An example of field investigation would be from the Indiana State Board of Health tracking sexually transmitted diseases (Indiana State Department of Health, 2018). Analytic studies involve detailed study designs and methods for testing hypothesis and provide evidence of diseases, solutions, and prevention (CDC, 2012). Evaluation, linkage, and policy development involves the interactions between epidemiologist and organizations such as hospitals, clinical personnel, government agencies, educating and promoting public health based evidence and guidelines (CDC, 2012). An example of a public health surveillance from the CDC is The Injury Control Recommendations: Bicycle Helmets (“MMWR,” 1995). These are guidelines for state and local agencies and community outreach programs to increase awareness for head injury prevention and or deaths associated with bicycle injuries secondary to not wearing protective gear (CDC, 2012). Just this week I had a ten year old patient who was riding his bicycle with his older brother on a bike trail, fell off bike hitting his head ending up with multiple facial fractures, skull fracture, subdural hematoma and a inter cranial bleed. Epidemiological research concluded need for primary prevention of head injuries associated with not wearing a bicycle helmet and it is possible this child may not have been a severely injured if wearing a helmet. Preventive care starts with us as future APNs understanding immunization schedules for infants, children, adolescents, and adults, preventative health screening based upon the USPSTF guidelines, behavioral counseling for mental health or lifestyle changes, and preventative medicines also called chemoprevention (Fletcher et al., 2014). I can relate mostly to surveillance and field investigation but all elements impact us as future APNs. References: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. (2012a). Principles of epidemiology in public health practice. Epidemiological Core Functions: Lesson 1. Section 4. (3rd. ed.). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ophss/csels/dsepd/ss1978/lesson1/section4.html Fletcher, R. H., Fletcher, S. W., & Fletcher, G. S. (2014). Clinical epidemiology: The essentials (5 ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Indiana State Department of Health. (2018). https://www.in.gov/isdh/ Injury-Control Recommendations: Bicycle Helmet. (1995). Retrieved June 20, 2019, from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00036941.htm Indiana State Department of Health. (2018). https://www.in.gov/isdh/Injury-Control Recommendations: Bicycle Helmet. (1995). Retrieved June 20, 2019, from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00036941.htm